Settling chamber



Jan. 24, 1928. -1,657,112

W. E. DOUGHTY SETTLING CHAMBER Filed Feb.1. 1926 Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED .STATES SETTLIN G Application filed February The invention relates to beverage dispensing and refers more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated beverages such as ginger ale.

Under the present practice of dispensing ginger ale, the beverage is prepared in carbonated vcondition and stored under a relatively high'pressiire. Ginger' ale in such g condition is commonly known as high pres- Cil :iure ale. lt is desirable to run this high pressure ale into a 'settling tank or chamber before drawing oif the ale for drinking, the ale in the settling chamber being under relatively low pressure and known as low pressure ale. From the settling chamber the low pressure ale is drawn olf forV drinking. Thus the 'settling chamber provides for relief ofthe greater amount of gas from the ale so that when thc ale is drawn from the settling chamber, i't will not become uuduly foamy, a condition whichwould result if the ale were drawn dire'ctly from the high pressure tank to the atmosphere.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved settling chamber for always keeping a relatively low predetermined pressure on the ale in the chamber.

A further feature of my invention resides in the provision of a novel dispensing apparatus for use in connection with a settling chamber, or other source of supply of a liquid suitable for drinking.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of con` struction and combination and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 represents an elevation view part-- 1y in cross section and diagrammatic to some extent, illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation view showing the header and coils of the refrigerating unit and parts associated therewith, and

Figure 3 is a detail view in section along 3 3 of Figure l.

In the drawings, reference character A represents a tank or refrigerating chamber having inner and outer walls 10 and 11 'respectively with a temperature insulating PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. DOUGHTY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES VERNOR COM- IPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

CHAMBER.

1, 1926. Serial No. 85,346.

medium 12 therebetween, such as cork, for example.

B represents a tank or container providing a source of the liquid to be dispensed described for purposes of illustration as ginger ale, the ale within the tank being carbonated in accordance with 'general practice and preferably under a relatively high pressure such as one hundred sixty pounds per square inch, for example. For convenience in hanthe ordinary commercial typel or other suitable construction. Such a unit includes a motor (not shown) and a thermostatically controlled switch (not shown) for cutting the motor in and out at the respective limits of temperature desired. Thus when the temperature" rises above a predetermined point the thermostat will act to out in the motor v and thusy act to lower the temperature with the .control mechanism (as will later be apparent) until thel desired low temperatureV limit is reached,- at which time the thermo- 'stat will act to out out'the motor. Such operation for refrigerating units in general,

is quite common and will be readily under-` stood by one skilled in the art. 16 represents the header or boiler having the cooling coils 17 communicating therewith. Cooling fluid is circulated between the header and unit C through pipes 18 and 19 as will be readily understood. The pipe 15 is preferably form.-

/ed with a header 20 4and communicating therewith are a plurality of branch pipes 21, each of the latter pipes preferably being spirally coiled for a number of turns around the header 16 and cooling coil 17. The spiral coils of the branch pipes 21 preferably engage adjacent cooling coils 17 being nested closely therebetween whereby the heat of the coils 21 may be dissipated by conduction to thefcooling coils 17.

The free ends of the branch pipes 21 are connected with another header 22 which is preferably positioned substantially ad'acent the bottom of the tank A, this point being the coolest in the tank as will later be apparent.

The tank A is preferably partially filled with a li uid 23 such as water, the level of the same ein preferably above the header 16 as shown. cated below this water level and preferably at the point of connection between pipe and header 20-is the usual refrigerating unit motor control bulb 24, the latter preferably contacting with header or pipe 15 so as to be subjected to the temperature of the ale passing from the relatively warm source B to the co'olifng coils 21. Thus the bulb is located at a point in the refrigerating system where the inflowing ale is the warmest, insuring the desired temperature at further points along the system. Also when ale is drawn from the system, relatively warmer ale `will How to the header 16 toreplace the ale drawn and with the bulb 24 located adjacent the pipe 15 or header 20 an extremely sensitive control for the motor is obtained, more so than if the bulb were located so as to be entirely sur,

rounded by the water 23.

A further feature of my invention resides in providing means for preventing the formation of an insulating lilm of cold water im' mediatelyadjacent the boiler`16 and cooling coils 17. v To this end, I have provided a propeller agitator'` or circulating propeller 25 mounted on a shaft 26, the latter being. ex,- tended through a suitable packed bearing 27. 28 is a motor for rotating shaft 26 and propeller 25 through reduction drive 29 when desired.

Referring to Figure `2, I have discovered that by providing vertical bailes 30 spaced adjacent the vertical portions of coils 17 afnd 21, a more concentrated flow of cold water will take plac down between the baflles, serving to increase the-rate of heat transfer to the cooling coils 17 and header 16 from the ale in .the ale circuit. With the parts arranged substantially as shown iln the drawings the coolest part of the water 23 will be at the vbottom of tank A referably where the ale is conducted from eader`22 asbypipe31. 1Y

In operation' of the system asv thus far described, when the ale 1s conducted from the pipe 31' by any suitable device such- 'as hereinafter set forth, ale to replace thatconducted away will ow'from thesu ply tank B to the header 20, whence it wf l be diatributed to the branch pipes 21 fon coo by circulation adjacent the 4cooling coils 1 and by the water 23 agitated by propeller 425.

I have found it desirable to maintain theA temperature of the ale at .substantially 36F. and to this end the mechanism controlling the operation of the refrigerating unit motor :of the ale.

construction. This regulator 33 ma be set from the bulb 24 may be set to cut in the motor when the temperature in the bulb `is 37 F. amd to cut out the motor at 34 F. The presence of the relatively large body of water 23V serves to stabilize the system preventing fluctuations of temperature within the chamber A. I-fhave found that with fifty feet of one-quarter inch block tin aleconducting pipe, withifn thechan'lber A my device described above, can cool forty vallons of ale per hour from 74 F. to 36 continuous How. Such` a capacity is sufiicient for ordinary purposes and if added capacit is found desirable, the coils 21 or 17 or bot 1 f of these coils may be increased. Preferably when added capacity or an increased rate of coolin of the ale is found desirable at any time, have found it convenient to add cracked ice to the water 23. Such ice will not readily melt because of the relatively low tempertaure but will serve to readily and conveniently increase the rate of cooling Preferably within the .chamber A and surrounded by the Water 23 is a settling cham ber Dadapted ito receive tlie hi h pressure ale from the pipe 3l and to a ord partial relief of the ale pressure. The ale fromA pipe 31 passes into the settling chamber D as at 32, the flow being controlled by a pressure regulator 33 of standard or other suitable to permit flow of ale nto chamber when the pressure inthe chamber falls below any predetermined pressure, the latter being ordinarily governed by the head ordistance the ale must flow verticallyto the point of draft. The latter point is indicated in the drawings by the draft .apparatus E shown mounted on counter 35 forming the top of .tank A although the draft' apparatus may be positioned at any other desired point remote with respect to the tank A, as for example, several floors above the tank. Thus for the relatively small head illustrated in the draw.

ings, the .pressure regulator 33 may be set .to permit flow of the ale into the chamber D whenever thepressure therein falls below six unds r square inch.

T e ale owing into thel chamber D will become foamy, liberating a certain amount of the gas contained in the high pressure ale. In order to permit 4escape of this gas,

'to insure a relatively low pressure at all times of the ale-in .the settling chamber, to afford aprop'er tasteof thelle, and to permit the ale to readilyfsettle to liquid form, the

followingconstruction is provided. x'- 'Threadedly engaging an opening 34 in the 'top of' chamber `D, preferably above the water line, ils a prxmaryvalve casing 35 vprovidingfa'gas c amber. The gas from the settling chamber is free to ypass to the chamber through rt 37 of plug 38, the latter having an axis bore :Harding s sliding bearing for valve stem 39 of a primary valve 40, .the latter controlling the escape ot' gas from chamber 36 by way of the port 41. Connected with the valve stem 39 is a float 42 whereby the primary valve 40 is controlled by the settled or low pressure ale 43 within the settling chamber. 44 is a secondaryvalve casing connected as by a threaded engagement at 45 with the primary valve easing 35', the casing 44 having an inlet port 46 registering with the port 4l aifording passage of the gas from chamber 36 to a chamber 47 in the secondary valve casing,

' the passage of gas thereto bein controlled by asecondary valve 48 norma y seated by a spring 49. The gas in chamber 47 is free to escape through ports 5() and 51, the latter communicating, by reason of suitable piping, preferably with the atmosphere. The compression of spring 49 may be regulated by rotating the cap 52, forming an abutment for the spring, atv the point of threaded engagement 53 with casing 44.

arrange the spring 49 to act to seat the secondary valve 48 whenever the pressure of the gas in the settling chamber falls below two pounds per square inch, such pressure established a minimum for the ale in the settling chamber. When ale is drawn from the settling chamber the float 42 lowers unseating valve 40. If the pressure in the settling chamber is less than six pounds per square inch, high pressure ale will flow into the chamber D past regulator 33 from pipe 31. Whenever the pressure of ale in chamber D is more than two pounds per square inch, and the valve 40 unseated, the excess pressure passes Vfrom chamber D to primary valve chamber 36 -past valve 40 andports 41 and 46 to the secondary valve chamber 47, whence it acts to unseat secondary valve 48, the gas then escaping to the atmosphere byway of ports 50 and 51.C

It will thus be noted that I have provided a control device whereby there will be at all times from two to six pounds per square inch pressure on the low pressure settle ale in the settling chamber D. Heretofore, pop valves were used to liberate the settled ale, these valves frequently becoming Worn so as to leak, liberating all the gas from the settled ale and thus leaving the ale with a flat undesirable taste. Vith my invention the escape of the gas from the settling chamber is positively controlled by the height of the ale and when the-valve 40 is unseated, then the valve 48 will operate to liberate gas in excess bf two pounds per square inch pressure. Even if the valve 48 should leak, there is always a relatively large amount of gas being liberated by the inlowing high pressure ale and when the ale level' rises, the valve 40 will positively close, thus trapping the remaining liberated gas the ale in' As shown in Figure 1, the settling chamber l) is preferably located within` the tank A and nearly entirely surrounded hy the cooling water 23. The propeller 25 serves to maintain the temperature ofthe water in the vicinity of chamber l), the same as the temperature in the vicinity olA the cooling coils 17.

The ale 'from the chamberl) is drawn oli' to the draft apparatus ll by a pipe 54 preferably communicating with the chamber at the bottom where the surrounding cooling water is of the lowest temperature, Thr` draft apparatus E comprises the draft arm 55-terminating in the draw-oit' spout or nozzle 56 controlled by a valve 57. As

aforesaid the regulator 33 may be set to I have found it desirable, for example, to-

correspond with the pressure necessary to force the ale up tothe valve 57, the head being relatively low as shown in the draw ings.

In order to maintain the temperature of the ale in the draft arm 55 equal to that in the chamber D, I have'provided means for circulating the cold ale from the settling chamber to thedraft arm so that as soon as valve 57 is opened, ale will be drawn from nozzle 56 at the temperature of the ale in the chamber D. Tor this end a circulating pipe 58,is connected preferably between the bottom of chamber D and .a circulating pump F mounted on support 59 and actuated preferably by the shaft 26. This pump forces the ale through pipe 59 which has 'a portion 60 extending upwardly into the draft arm 55 open-ended so as to pass the cold ale from chamber D to a point adjacent the valve 57. Thus this circulating pipe will cause a continuous ow of cold ale Aupwardly through the pipe portion 60 and downwardly through the draft arm 55 and pipe 54 to the chamber D. Thus, even though the ale is drawn from the nozzle 56 at intermittent periods, the ale drawn will always be .0f-a temperature the same as the ale in the chamber D. `It will further be noted that the draft apparatus E maybe located remotely from the chamber D or other source of cold ale, at the same time insuring properly cooled ale when drawn from the dispensing nozzle. Ihave thus avoided the objection of drawing ale warmed during passage from the source of supply to the dispensing nozzle. s

While itis believed from the foregoing description, the nature and advantage of my invention will be readily understood, I desire to have it understood'that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and lll() described and that such changes may be re sorted to when desired as fall within the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination with a settling tank adapted to receive a high pressure carbonated beverage to permit settling of the same, of a pressure controlled inlet valve, an outlet for withdrawing the settled relatively low pressure ale, and means for limiting the minimum pressure within the tank, said means including a valve casing having an inner open end threadedly engaging an opening in the top of the said tank, an aperturedplug partially closing the inner end of the said valve casing to provide a chamber Within the said valve casing,I the said chamber being constantly in communication with the interior ot' the said tank, a second valve casing secured to the lirst mentioned valve casing, the said second valve casing being provided with a passage opening into the chamber of the first mentioned valve casing, a oat controlled valve in the chamber of the first mentioned valve casing adapted to seat on one end of the said passage, and a pressureV controlled valve in the other easing adapted to seat on the other end of the said passage.

2. The combination` with a settling tank adapted to receive a high pressure carbonated beverage to permit settling-of the same, of an inlet valve adapted to limit the maximum pressure Within vthe tank, an outlet for vvithdrawing the settled relatively low pressure ale, and means for limiting the minimum pressure Within the tank, said means including a valve casing threadedly engaging an opening in the tank, a plug substantially closing one end of the valve easing to form a chamber within the valve casing, the said plug being apertured whereby the said chamber is in constant communication with the interior of the said tank, a second valve casing carried by the lirst men- 'tioned valve casing, the second valve easing also being provided With a chamber, a vent providlng communication between the sald chambers, and oppositely seating Valves for controlling the escape of gas through the said vent.`

3. In combination, a settling chamber adapted to receive high pressure ale, pres sure controlled means for regulating the tlow of ale into the said chamber, a primary y valve casing threadedly engaging an opening in the top of the said tank, the said primary valve casing providing a gas chamber in constant communication with the interior of the tank, a secondary valve casing threadedly connected with the primary valve easing, the said secondary valve casing having an inlet port registering with an outlet port formed in the )rimary valve casing, a float controlled va ve adapted to control the passage of'gas through the outlet port of the primary valve casing, and a pressure controlled valve adapted to control the passage of gas through the inlet port of the secondary valve casing.

4. In combination, a settling tank adapted to receive high pressure carbonated ale, pressure controlled meansfor regulating the lion' of ale into the said chamber, and means for permitting the escape of a portion of the gas liberated 'from the ale, said means including a pair of valve casings secured to the tank land forming a pair of separate chambers,

one of the said chambers having a passage opening directly into the said tank, and the other of the said chambers having a vent opening to the atmosphere, a valve controlled passage providing communication he tween the two chambers, a float controlled valve in one of the chambers for closing one endof the said passage, the said float controlled valve being controlled b v the level of the ale Within the tank, and a pressure controlled valve in the other of the `said chambers for closing the other end ot' the said passage, the said pressure controlled valve being actuated by the pressure within the tank upon opening of the float controlled valve.

In testimony whereof `I aflix my signature.

WM. E. DOUGHTY. 

